The Hangover: Spurs Still Undefeated At Home; Warriors Too Strong For Blazers

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This is the Hangover. We get basketball-wasted all the time. Yes, we recap the NBA every night in our own way.

(PHOTO CREDIT: Eric Gay/AP.)

10 games went on under the Friday night lights of the NBA.

01/08/2016

THE GAMES

TORONTO RAPTORS 97 (23-15) @ WASHINGTON WIZARDS 88 (15-19)

(PHOTO CREDIT: Rob Carr/Getty Images.)

The Raptors took the lead halfway in the third period and never looked back. DeMar DeRozan continues to have a sparkling scoring season and added 35 against the Wizards. Both teams combined for 42 turnovers but Wizards shot under 40 percent again.

BEHIND THE LINES
DeMar DeRozan (TOR): 35 pts, 8 rebs.
Kyle Lowry (TOR): 21 pts, 10 rebs, 4 stls.
John Wall (WAS): 21 pts.
Marcin Gortat (WAS): 12 pts, 10 rebs, 3 blks.

ORLANDO MAGIC 83 (20-17) @ BROOKLYN NETS 77 (10-26)

Not exactly the prettiest game and scoring was more of a premium here. The Magic broke away with two Aaron Gordon dunks and a three Victor Oladipo (a three). That gave Orlando a double-digit lead and the Nets couldn’t recover from that bit of avalanche. Yeah, a 7-0 run might as well be an avalanche in this game.

BEHIND THE LINES
Tobias Harris (ORL): 9 pts, 12 rebs, 8 assts.
Nikola Vucevic (ORL) 20 pts, 10 rebs.
Victor Oladipo (ORL): 20 pts, 9 rebs, 3 stls.
Brook Lopez (BRK) 17 pts, 8 rebs.

DENVER NUGGETS 84 (13-24) @ MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 91 (20-18)

The Nuggets survived a 7-point second quarter and only trailed by one going into the fourth. But they couldn’t stop Zach Randolph early in the period (10 out of his 24 points in the fourth). And then Mario Chalmers, well, Super Nintendo Chalmers pulled the Chrono Trigger and made two clutch shots from behind the arc. Memphis would hold on and go two games above .500.

BEHIND THE LINES
Zach Randolph (MEM): 24 pts, 6 rebs, 3 blks.
Marc Gasol (MEM): 12 pts, 5 stls.
Danilo Gallinari (DEN): 29 pts, 8 rebs.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 125 (25-9) @ MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 99 (12-25)

(PHOTO CREDIT: Jim Mone/AP.)

J.R. Smith couldn’t miss. Iman Shumpert and Kevin Love had big games. LeBron James dunked and raised the roof like it was 1996. I’d say it was a good night for the Eastern Conference champions.

BEHIND THE LINES
LeBron James (CLE): 13 pts, 12 rebs, 8 assts.
Kevin Love (CLE): 20 pts, 9 rebs.
J.R. Smith (CLE): 27 pts.
Iman Shumpert (CLE): 23 pts, 4 stls.
Shabazz Muhammad (MIN): 22 pts.
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN): 22 pts, 6 rebs.
Andrew Wiggins (MIN): 35 pts.

INDIANA PACERS 91 (21-15) @ NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 86 (11-24)

Anthony Davis exited the game early after he hurt his back diving towards the sidelines.

This game wasn’t pretty, either, as there were a lot of apple turnovers in this game, especially from the Pacers. Indy went on a 7-0 run in the fourth to take a five-point lead. The Pacers clung to a three-point lead with a minute and a half left but the birds couldn’t take advantage of more Indiana turnovers. Monta Ellis made up for his mistakes by stopping an Eric Gordon three and the Pacers got the win moments later.

BEHIND THE LINES
Ian Mahinmi (IND): 17 pts, 10 rebs, 4 blks.
Alexis Ajinca (NO): 4 pts, 12 rebs, 5 stls.
Tyreke Evans (NO): 27 pts, 7 rebs, 4 assts, 4 stls.
Ryan Anderson (NO): 21 pts, 6 rebs, 3 stls.

DALLAS MAVERICKS 95 (21-16) @ MILWAUKEE BUCKS 96 (15-23)

The Mavericks came all the way back from 17 down. Raymond Felton made a couple of three-pointers and then Dirk Nowitzki made two free throws to give the Mavs the lead. But Dirk threw a bad pass that John Henson got a hand on and Khris Middleton made a lay-up with nine seconds left. Deron Williams had a chance to win the game again for the Mavs but he missed the jumper that would’ve won it. Milwaukee wins the game between the Only Teams That Beat The Warriors This Season game. That’s a mouthful.

(PHOTO CREDIT: Darren Hauck/AP.)

BEHIND THE LINES
Michael Carter-Williams (MIL): 15 pts, 12 rebs, 8 assts, 5 stls.
Khris Middleton (MIL): 27 pts, 5 assts.
Zaza Pachulia (DAL): 9 pts, 15 rebs.
Dirk Nowitzki (DAL): 20 pts, 9 rebs.

NEW YORK KNICKS 99 (18-20) @ SAN ANTONIO SPURS 100 (32-6)

Kristaps Porzingis really made an impression on the Spurs as he went for 28 and 11. Carmelo Anthony and company then made the fourth quarter 12-point deficit disappear. The Knicks had a chance to win it in San Antonio but Jose Calderon missed a corner three. The Spurs stay undefeated at home.

BEHIND THE LINES
Kawhi Leonard (SA): 19 pts, 12 rebs.
Kristaps Porzingis (NY): 28 pts, 11 rebs.
Carmelo Anthony (NY): 20 pts, 12 rebs.

MIAMI HEAT 103 (22-14) @ PHOENIX SUNS 95 (13-26)

The Heat had three players that scored over 20. But it was Chris Bosh that made the big three with two minutes left to give the Heat a seven-point lead. Justise Winslow would add a dunk for good measure and the Suns are back to their setting ways.

BEHIND THE LINES
Gerald Green (MIA): 21 pts.
Goran Dragic (MIA): 22 pts, 7 assts.
Dwyane Wade (MIA): 27 pts.
Brandon Knight (PHX): 26 pts.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 128 (34-2) @ PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS 108 (15-24)

(PHOTO CREDIT: Steve Dykes/AP.)

Klay Thompson got hot early, Stephen Curry threw ridiculous no-look passes, and Draymond Green got his EIGHTH triple-double. Damian Lillard went for 40 and 10 but it wasn’t nearly enough to offset the Warriors’ weapons.

BEHIND THE LINES
Stephen Curry (GS): 26 pts, 9 assts.
Draymond Green (GS): 11 pts, 13 rebs, 10 assts.
Klay Thompson (GS): 36 pts (7/10 3FG), 6 rebs, 5 assts.
Damian Lillard (POR): 40 pts, 10 assts.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 117 (26-11) @ LOS ANGELES LAKERS 113 (8-30)

Unlike the previous two contests, this was a close game all the way with Lou Williams going NUTS in the fourth quarter. Lou Williams scored 23 of his 44 points in the fourth. Russell Westbrook countered with some playmaking, making a three-point play and an assist to the league’s favorite Kiwi, Steven Adams.

After Russ split his foul shots, the Lakers had a shot to tie or take the lead. But Kobe Bryant badly missed a driving lay-up against Kevin Durant. Russ made both free throws this time and the Lakers lost to the Thunder again.

At least, it wasn’t by 35, let alone 50.

BEHIND THE LINES
Kevin Durant (OKC): 24 pts, 7 rebs.
Russell Westbrook (OKC): 36 pts, 12 rebs, 7 assts.
Lou Williams (LAL): 44 pts (15/15 FT).

GETTING SOCIAL

WATCH THIS PLAY

I’m partial to The No-Look Pass but Stephen Curry took it to another level.

(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)

THE TAKEAWAY

I can only explain yesterday’s games with pictures.

Is there anything else to say?

Follow Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass for all tweets about the NBA and terrible pop music. Also, check out his podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.

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